Eye set for dolls



May 23, 1933. J. H. WILHELM EYE SET FOR DOLLS Filed May 2, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet, l

. o m WS m Mm T1 7 i mH/Mm n mY JB y 3, 1933. J. H. WILHELM 1,910,911

Y EYE SET FOR DOLLS Filed May 2, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR John H.Wi|he|m WIFW ATTORNEYS Patented May 23, 1933 UNE'TE srarss PATENT OFFICE JOHN H. WILI'IELM, or ROCKAWAY BEACH, NEW Yonnnssmnon, B Y ivrnsnn ASSIGIN- MEN'rs, 'IO Manson conromrron, on NEW YORK, n; Y., A oonronarion or NEW YORK EYE SET FOR DOLLS Application filed May 2,1930. Serial No. 449,157.

This invention relates to movable eyes for dolls, and more particularly to such eyes which are manually operable.

A manually operable eye set is disclosed in'fthe patent to John H. Wilhelm, 1,658,471,

issued February 7, 1928. Such an eye set is both theoretically and practically operative and successful, butsuffers from the disadvantage that it is diffcultto mount the same within a dolls head or similar toyfigure. This problem of making possible a secure and permanent mounting which may be applied accurately inplace in a rapid and economical manner has proven troublesome even 1n the case of gravity operated eye sets,

and experiencehas shown that forwide commercial adoption, an'eye setmust fulfil the following desiderata. i V

:In the first place, the eye set itself as an article ofmanufacture should be simple and economical in construction so that it may be sold to doll manufacturersata cheap price. "Secondly, the mounting, when in place, must be secure and fool-proof so that the doll can be roughly treated and thrown around without dislodging the eye set. Thirdly, the entire movable eye system should be arrangedto permit mounting of the same within the dolls head through the I neck of the head, so as to dispense with the necessity of cutting open the top of the head and thereafter using a wig to conceal the resulting disfiguration. Fourthly, even though the eye set mounted through the TI neck openingit mustbe accurately positioned within the head so that the eyes will fit the eye sockets closely.

These, and other desiderata of the same general. character have ledto the wide adopi tion of eyesystems in which the eye set is supported on across bridge or other'suitable supporting means provided with relatively movable prongs which may be. imbedded in the material of the dolls head after locating the samein proper position by applying the eye set directly to theeye sockets of the head. V

A typical example of such an eye set and of a tool for mounting the same within a dolls head are, respectively, disclosed in patents to AleXanderKonoff, 1,621,072 and 1,621,073,.both issued March 15,1927, and this general class of movable eye systems has in the commercial field almost wholly. displaced eye systems involving the screwing or cementing of the eye set support within the head in the manner disclosed, for example, in the aforesaid patent to Wilhelm.

The primary object of the present invention is to fulfil the foregoing desiderata and to provide a manuallyoperable movable eye set which can be economically manufactured, and readily and accurately and securely inserted within a dolls headthrough the neckthereof.

The manually operable system, unlike the gravity operated system, necessitates the use of a control member which projects, at some. point from the dolls head. This member must not interfere .with the normal insertion and mounting of the system within the head, and yet must be brought into operative engagement with the eye set. To make this possible isanotherobject of this invention, which is accomplished by making at least a portion of the control member resilient to facilitate placing the same in the desired position in the dolls head after the eye set has been located. y

It is of advantage for obvious reasons to make the eye set movable under gravity control as well as manual control, so thatthe advantages of both maybe obtained; In fact the manual control is of even greater advantage when used conjointly with gravity control, because it makes itpossible for the child using the toy to simulate life-like conditions to great advantage, for when the doll is reclining and apparently sleeping, the child may cause the eyes of the doll to open upon touching or lifting the same, and before the doll isturnedto an upright position; and the converse is true when the doll is at first erect. Accordingly, a further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a gravity and manually oper-' able movable eye system. characterized by the advantagesoutlined above. Still another object of my invention is to provide a; movable tongue andeye system so that a dolls head having a mouth opening may be provided with a movable tongue operable either manually or by gravity, or both. It is desirable that the addition of the movable tongue be possible through the neck of the dolls head and without interfering with the mounting and assembly of the gravity and manually operable movable eye system previously outlined, and to so do is another object of the present invention.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the grav ity and manually operable movable tongue and eye system elements and their relation one to the other as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specification and sought to be defined in the claims. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a section through a dolls head fitted with one form of the present invention; I

Fig. 2 shows the same with the eyes in open position;

Fig. 3 is a partially sectioned rear elevation of the head;

Fig. 4 is a section taken through a dolls head fitted with a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a section in plan of the same;

Fig. 6 is a partially sectioned rear eleva-.

tion of the head;

Fig. 7 is a detail showing the engagement of the control member with the eye set;

Fig. 8 is a section taken in the plane of theline 8-8 in Fig. 9; 1

Fig. 9 is a section taken in the plane of the line 99 in Fig. 10; and

Fig. 101s a section similar to that shown in Fig; 4, showing the manner in which a movable tongue may be added to the eye system.

Referring to the several forms of the invention disclosed, in each case there is provided an eye set A held in place by supporting means B provided with relatively movable prongs imbedded in the material of the dolls head. A manually operable member C is arranged to control the movement of the eye set A, and at least a portion D of said control member is made resilient to facilitate placing the same in a desired position in a dolls head.

Referring now to the form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1, 2, and 8, the eye set A comprises eyes 12 mounted on a cross rod 14. The supporting means B for the eye set comprises a cross bridge 16 in which the plates 18 fitted with prongs 20 are slidably mounted, so that by moving the plates 18 outwardly, the prongs 20 may be imbedded in the material of the dolls head;

The supporting means B is similar to that shown 1n Fig. 5, and referring to that, as

well as to Fig; 1, it will be seen that the bridge 16 is provided with forwardly projecting arms 22 having slots 24 in which the cross rod 14 is journaled. A spring 26 is arranged to resiliently urge the cross rod 14, and with it the eyes 12 toward the eye openings or eye sockets in the dolls head.

The cross rod 14 has affixed thereto, prefer-ably by welding, a depending weight 30 for gravity control of theeyes, and an arm 32 for manual control of the eyes. The arm 32 is preferably provided by simply extending the weight arm upwardly, and the resulting upward extension 32 is so bent or positioned that it acts as a stop to limit the closing movement of the eyes by contacting with the inner wall of the dolls head, as is best shown in Fig. 1. The open ing movement of the eyes is limited by contact of a buffer 84 mounted in the weight 30 with the portion 36 of the dolls head.

A control opening 40 is provided in the dolls head and preferably at the back of the neck thereof out of which the handle or button 42 of the control member C projects for manual operation. A preferably resilient wire or rod 44 interconnects the handle 42 with the eye set A, and more particularly with the arm or upward extension 82. In the present case, the arm 32 and the wire 44 are each bent into the form of a ring, and the rings are pivotally secured together by a rivet 46. The operation of the device is obvious from the drawing, the gravity control normally prevailing, but manual control against the gravity control being available by manipuation of the bandle 42.

The manner in which the eye set of the present eye system is placed within the head 'ofthe doll is exactly like that used with a simple gravity eye system of analogous type. More specifically, the supporting means B of the present invention closely resembles that disclosed in the Konoff patents previously adverted to, and it may be mounted within the head by placing the same on a tool such as is described in the said Konoff patents, slipping the head of the doll over the end of the tool and the eye set, and placing the eye openings of the head carefully on the eyes and thereafter operating the tool to force the prongs 20 into the material of the dolls head. The head may then be removed from the tool, at which time the wire 44 and the handle 42 will be located in the neck of the dolls head. The wire 44 being resilient, the handle 42 may be forced upwardly until opposite the control opening 40, in order to place it in the operative position shown in the drawings.

The arrangement so far described may be mounted in place in another manner which consists, essentially, in letting the control member C hang loosely from the eye set while the latter ison the mounting tool,

next passing the handle 42 through the control opening 40 in the back of the neck of the head, and thereafter oscillating the head upwardly so as to move the neck of the head around the tool into final position with the eyes inplace. This method has the advan-, tage of making it unnecessary for thewire 42 to be resilient, but on the other hand, has the disadvantage of slowing up the opera-- tion. of mounting the eye mechanism within the head. f

A modified control mechanism for the eye set is disclosed in Figs. 48 of the drawing. Referring to these figure -it will be observed that the eye set A and supporting means Btherefor are identical with those already described in connection with Figs. 1-3. However, the arm for carrying the pendant or gravity weight 30 is extended upwardly pastthe cross rod 14'to form an arm which is aflixed to the cross rod 14 and whichis suitably bent so that the upper end 52 thereof acts as a stop to limit the closing movement of the eye set, as is best shown in Fig. 10. r

The control member C comprises a strip of metal 54 which carries a control handle 56 at one end thereof and is arranged at the end D thereof for resilient or snap engagement with the arm or upward extension 50. The arrangement is such that the eye set is mounted within the dolls head without the manual control member 0 being attached thereto so that the mounting problem is reduced simply tothat of mounting a gravity controlled eye set in the dolls head. The manual control member C is thereafter pushed through the opening 40 inthe back of the neck of the head until the resilient bifurcated end D of the strip 54 snaps into engagement with the arm 50. This mode of attachment is a very speedy one for ob-' vious reasons, and possesses the additional advantage that the handle 56 may be designed in any manner desired without the requirement that it be able to pass through the control opening 40. In fact a simple slit may be provided. through which the strip 54 may pass, and the end of the'strip may be bent as desired to form a control handle. j

The manner in which the desired locking engagement of the eye set A and the control I member G is obtained is best shown in detail gent slope of the sides of the slot-approaching the hooks 60.; It is clear from Fig. 8 that by 50, the hooks 60 may be forced past the same and into permanent holding relation therewith. The slot 58 is maderelativelyshort so as to avoid excess lost motion, but is sufficiently long to accommodate the change in angularity between the arm 50 and the strip 54 when the eyes move between the open and closed positions. The arm 50is keyed or upset to make the fins 53 indicated in Fig. 7 at a point just above that engaged by the strip 50 in order to guard against the possibility of the strip 54 being pulled off the end of the arm 50. p

The modification of my invention just described is preferred not only for its inherent advantages already mentioned, but also because it makes possible the addition of a movabletongue to the mechanism so far described. This arrangement is illustrated generally in Fig. 10 which coincides sub stantially with Fig. 4 but differs therefrom in that the dolls head is provided with a mouth opening 7 0 in which, or just in back of which, a tongue 72 is positioned. The tongue 72 is held bysupporting means 74 preferably rigidly aflixed to the strip 54, so that the manually operable eye system already described provides the sole support and operating means for the tongue 72.

In order to retain the simplicity of attachment of the system, the tongue and tongue supporting means are preferably in serted through the neck opening, and afixed to the strip 54 after the latter has been placed in position. The manner in which this is done is clearly evident from Figs. 8 and 9 showing the strip 54 to be provided with a pair of marginal indentations 76 the length of which is equal to the width of the supporting means 74, while the supportingmeans 74 isshown to comprise a pair of resilient r'eciprocable side members the upper ends of which are bent to form recesses 78 and convergent facesSO leading eye system, it is merely necessary toinsert the tongue and supporting means through the neck of the doll and push the faces 80 against the strip 54 at the marginal indentations 7 6 until the support 7 4 snaps into holding relation. The recesses 78 grip the edges of the strip 54 while the indentations 76 prevent sliding movement of the support 74 along the strip 54. Movement of the eye set whether caused by gravity or manual operation is accompanied by a movement of the tongue 72 which enhances the realism of the toy. Movement of the pendant weight 30 is not interfered with by the tongue support ing'means 74, because the weight may oscillate freely between the sides of the tongue supporting means.

The construction of my gravity and manually operable movable tongue and eye system, the method of applying the same to. a dolls head, and the many advantages thereof, will, it is thought, be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. The eye set and supporting and mounting means therefor may be almost identical with known standardized types, and retains all of the advantages thereof, such as accuracy of loca tion, pe 'manence of mounting, resilient movement of the eyes toward the eye openings, and ease of insertion and attachment through the neck of the dolls head. The manual control member is exceedingly simple, from an apparatus standpoint, is located at an inconspicuous part of the head ordinarily concealable by clothing, and may be readily placed in the desired operating position, this latter feature being facilitated by making at least a portion of the control member resilient. The movable tongue system also is structurally simple and applicable to the dolls head through the neckopening and without sacrifice of the advantageous features of the movable eye system. Either the eye or the tongue and eye system may readily be made gravity as well as manually operated, and when this is done, a simple upward extension of the pendant weight arm acts both as an operating arm for manual operation of the eye set, and as a stop for limiting the movement of the eye set.

It will be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in the preferred forms, many changes and modifications may be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the following claims. 7

I claim:

1. In combination, a dolls head having eye openings, a neck opening and a control opening located at the back of the neck por tion of the head, and a gravity and manually operable movable eye system arranged to facilitate insertion thereof in the openings of said dolls head comprising an eye set, means for supporting the same including separable prongs imbedded in the material of the dolls head and means resiliently urging said eye set toward said eye openings, a gravity weight attached to said eye set and having an upward extension acting as a stop to limit the movement of the eye set, and a manually operable arm connected to said upward extension and extending through Said control opening.

2. In combination, a dolls head having a neck opening and having a control opening located at the back of the neck portion of the head, and a manually operable movable eye system arranged to facilitate insertion thereof in the dolls head comprising a movable eye set, means to support the same, an arm on said eye set, and a simple manual control arm including means attached to said arm and a handle projecting out of the control opening, said control member being made resilient and bendable to facilitate pushing the handle through the neck opening and out of the control opening.

3. In combination, a dolls head having a neck opening and having a control opening located at the back of the neck portion of the head, and a gravity and manually operable movable eye system arranged to facilitate insertion thereof in the dolls head comprising a movable eye set, means to support the same including relatively movable prongs imbedded in the material of the dolls head, a gravity weight on said eye set, an arm on said eye set, and a manual control member including means attached to said arm and a handle projecting out of the control opening, said control member being made resilient and bendable to facilitate pushing the handle through the neck opening and out of the control opening.

4. In combination, adolls head having eye openings, a neck opening and a control opening at the back of the neck, and a gravity and manually operable movable eye system arranged to facilitate insertion thereof in the finished dolls head comprising a movable eye set, means to support the same including relatively movable prongs imbedded in the material of the dolls head and means resiliently urging the eye set toward the eye openings, a gravity weight arm on said eye set having an upward extension acting as a stop to limit the movement of the eye set, and a manual control member including means attached to said upward extension and a handle projecting out of the control opening, at least a portion of said control member being made resilient and bendable to facilitate pushing the handle through the neck opening and out of the control opening.

5. In combination, a dolls head having a neck opening and an additional control opening, and a manually operable movable eye system arranged to facilitate insertion thereof in the dolls head comprising a movable eye set, means to support the same, an arm on said e e set, and a manual control member inclu ing a handle projecting out of the control opening, said arm and control member including and being interconnected by mating snap engagement means, said snap engagement means permitting the control member to be inserted directly through the control opening and pushed into snap engagement with the arm.

6. In combination, a dolls head having a neck opening and an additional control opening, and a gravity and manually operable movable eye system arranged to facilitate insertion thereof in the dolls head comprising a movable eye set, means to support the same including relatively movable prongs imbedded i'n'the material of the dolls head, a gravity Weight on said eye set, an arm on said eye set, said arm and control member including and being interconnected by mating snap engagement means, and a manual control member including a handle projecting out of the control opening, ting the control member to be inserted directly through the control. opening and pushed into snap engagement with the arm.

7. In combination, a dolls head having a neck opening and an additional control opening at the back of the neck, and a gravity and manually operable movable eye system arranged to facilitate insertion thereof in the finished dolls head comprising a movable eye set, means to support the same including relatively movable prongs imbeded in the material of the dolls head, a gravity weight arm on said eye set having an upward extension and a manual control member including bifurcated snap engagement means engaging the aforesaid upward extension and further including a handle projecting out of the control opening, said engaging means being made resilient so that the control member may be inserted directly through the control opening and pushed into snap engagement with the upward extension.

8. In combination, a dolls head having eye openings, a neck opening and an additional control opening at the back of the neck, and a gravity and manually operable movable eye system arranged to facilitate insertionI thereof in the finished dolls head comprising a movable eye set, means to support the same including relatively movable prongs imbedded in the material of the dolls head and means resiliently urging the eye set toward the eye openings, a gravity weight on said eye set having an upward extension acting as a stop to limit the movement of the eye set, and a manual control member including bifurcated snap engagement means engaging the aforesaid upward extension and a handle projecting out of the control opening, said engaging means being made resilient sothat the control member may be inserted directy through the control opening and pushed into snap engagement with the upward extension. 7

9. In combination, a dolls head having a mouth opening and a control opening at the back of the neck, and a manually operable movable tongue and eye system comprising a movable eye set, means to support the same, an arm on said eye set, a manual control member attached to said arm and having a handle extending through the control opening, and a movable tongue in said mouth opening directly afiixed to said control member. i i .10. In combination, a dolls head having said engaging means permit a mouth opening, a neck opening, and a control opening, and a manually operable movable tongue and eye system arranged to facilitate insertion thereof in a dolls head comprising a movable eye set, means to support the same includingrelatively movable prongs imbedded in the material of the dolls head, a movable tongue in said mouth opening, a manual control member having a handle extending through the control opening, and snap engagement means operatively connectingthe control member and the movable eye set and tongue, said last named means being made resilient to facilitate placing the elements of the system in the desired relation.

11. In combination, a dolls head having a mouth opening, a neck opening, and an additional control opening atthe back of the neck, and a gravity and manually operable movable tongue and eye system arranged to-faoilitate insertion thereof in a.

dolls head comprisinga movable eye set, means to support the same including relatively movable prongs imbedded in the material of the dolls head,a gravity weight arm on said eye set having an upward extension, a manual control member attached to sand upward extension and having a handle extending through the control open-' including relatively movable prongs im bedded in the material of the dolls head and means resiliently urging said eye set toward the eye openings, a gravity weight arm on said eye set having an upward extension acting as a stop to limit the movement of the eye set, a manual control member attached to said upward extension and having a handle extending through the control opening, and a movable tongue in said supmouth opening directly "afiixed to and ported by said control member,

13. As an articleof manufacture, a gravity and manually operable movable eye system adapted for insertion into a finished dolls head comprising a movable eye set, means to support the same including relatively movable prongs to be imbedded in the material of the dolls head, a gravity weight arm on said eye set, another arm on said eye set, and a manual control member including a handle, saidlast mentioned arm and control member including and being interconnected by mating snap engagement means,

permitting thesame to be pushed into looking engagement.

14. As an article of manufacture, a gravity and manually operable movable eye system adapted for insertion into a finished dolls head comprising a movable eye set, means to resiliently support the same including relatively movable prongs to be imbedded in the material of the dolls head, a gravity weight arm on said eye set having an upward extension for acting as a stop to limit the movement of the eye set, and a manual control member including a handle, said arm and control member including and being interconnected by mating snap engagement means, permitting the same to be pushed into locking engagement.

15. As an article or manufacture, a manually operable movable eye and tongue system adapted for insertion into a dolls head comprising a movable eye set, means to support the same, an arm on said eye set, a manual control member including a handle, said arm and control member having mating parts designed to be engaged or attached together by a resilient or snap engagement, a tongue, and means for afiixing the same to said control member after the latter has been placed in operative position in the dolls head.

16. As an article of manufacture, a gravity and manually operable movable eye and tongue system adapted for insertion into a finished dolls head comprising a movable eye set, means to support the same including relatively movable prongs to be imbedded in the material of the dolls head, a gravity weight on said eye set, an arm on said eye set, a manual control member including a handle, said arm and control member having mating parts designed to be engaged or attached together by a resilient or snap engagement, a tongue, and means for affixing the same to said control member after the latter has been placed in operative position in the dolls head. 7

17 As an article of manufacture, a gravity and manually operable movable eye and tongue system adapted for insertion into a finished dolls head comprising a movable eye set, means to resiliently support the same including relatively movable prongs to be imbedded in the material of the dolls head, a gravity weight on said eye set having an upward extension for acting as a stop to limit the movement of the 'eye set, a manual control member including a handle, said upward extension and control member having mating parts designed to be engaged or attached together by a resilient or. snap engagement, a tongue, and means for aflixing the same directly to said control member after the latter has been placed in operative position in the dolls head.

18. In combination, a dolls head having eye openings, a neck opening and a control opening located at the back of the neck portion of the head, and a gravity and manually operable movable eye system arranged to facilitate insertion thereof in the openings of said dolls head comprising an eye set, means to support the same including means resiliently urging said eye set toward said eye openings, a gravity weight arm attached to said eye set and having an upward extension, and a manually operable arm connected to said upward extension and extending through said control opening.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 29 day of April A. D. 1930.

JOHN H. WILHELVI. 

